Grand Superior Lodge in Two Harbors, Minn., opened its BLU Ice Bar and Lounge last Friday. This marks the third year that the hotel on Lake Superior has created an ice bar. Construction of the 2,000-square-foot structure required 51,000 pounds of ice. This year, the bar will include ice-carved trophy fish and game, a 6-foot carved moose in a wall of ice and fur-lined benches. BLU is open Friday and Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. through mid-March, with extended hours on some holidays. More information: 1-800-627-9565; www.grandsuperior.com/icebar.

KERRI WESTENBERG

A visit to Christmas of 1890s in Milwaukee

Grand Avenue Christmas, an annual tradition at the historic Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, gives visitors an idea of what an 1890s Christmas was like. Self-guided tour hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (opens at noon on Sundays); special Dec. 24 and 31 hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed Christmas and New Year's days). Details at pabstmansion.com.

WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL

No shallow sound from these travel speakers

Looking to upgrade your travel speaker system? With Geneva Sound System Model XS, you'll find high-end travel speakers (a woofer, two tweeters), an FM radio and an alarm clock that fold into an upright position like an attractive retro travel alarm with a clamshell case. The list price is $250, but shop around. Available at genevalab.com; amazon.com.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LAX features new Virgin America lounge

A survey recently ranked Los Angeles International Airport as one of the nation's three most stressful airports. That may be changing. Virgin America just opened a new passenger lounge at LAX. It is bathed in purple and red mood lighting and furnished with wheel-shaped seats and flat-screen TVs.